In a time where everyone seems to be putting out their preliminary win predictions for the Sixers, I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring, but with a different twist. My current prediction is 45 wins(injuries and minutes restrictions permitting). I'm going to give my 10 reasons why I think the Sixers should finish on the higher end of the win prediction spectrum. Again, injuries permitting.
1. With Embiid on the court, the Sixers simply just win
With Embiid on the court for the Sixers this past season, the Sixers played to the level of an upper-echelon playoff team. The numbers and metrics back that up if they didn't pass your eye test in that regard. They are the highest rated defensive team in the entire NBA with Embiid on the court, and offensively are significantly better also. Assuming you get a lot more games out of Embiid, the Sixers would have pushed for a playoff spot last season and certainly will(and more) next season.
2. Two #1 overall picks added to the roster
The Sixers had a 10-5 January last season and were playing playoff caliber basketball with the likes of TJ McConnell and Nik Stauskas getting significant minutes. Nothing against them, TJ is a fan favorite, but when you add Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons to your roster, you are going to be significantly better. Sure, they'll take time to jell, but you could say the same about the Sixers last season and they got better as the season went on.
3. The JJ Redick factor(and Amir Johnson)
JJ Redick not only provides the Sixers with floor spacing as one of the most accurate 3 point shooters in NBA history(it's true), but he also provides veteran leadership a young team needs. Same goes for Amir Johnson. And their presence just makes the Sixers even deeper. Which leads to...
4. The Sixers have one of the best benches in the NBA
If there was any silver lining to the injuries this past season, it was that bench caliber players got starter's minutes, and going forward they will be much more seasoned than your typical bench players. The entire Sixers roster pretty much had plenty of playing time last season, and got them much-needed development time. This should do wonders for their contributions next season. The Sixers are loaded with quality NBA talents up and down the roster. No stiffs who don't belong will be seeing the floor next season.
5. The Okafor and Embiid experiment is dead
Last season, the Sixers fucked around with that Embiid and Okafor lineup way too many times when even your most casual fans knew it wouldn't work. Not coincidentally, literally the first game the Sixers stopped going to that lineup is when their season started to turn and they started winning. We won't see them together starting next season at all. That cost the Sixers a good 5+ wins last season, if not more, and it's gone never to return.
6. The Eastern Conference is as bad as it has ever been
With Paul George, Jimmy Butler, and Paul Millsap(who?) going out West, the East gets even weaker. Half the teams in the conference are going to tank for Michael Porter Jr. or Luka Doncic, so the Sixers can beat up on a weakened and vulnerable conference.
7. Home Court Advantage is back
The Sixers sold 14,000 new season tickets, which is the most in the entire league. Home court advantage like from the early Iverson days will be back, and that place will be rocking. Expect the Sixers to be one of the better home teams next season feeding off of that crowd.
8. The Sixers have a great developmental staff
With a young team, you need the right coaching staff to bring the players along, and this staff has proven that they have what it takes to develop and get the most out of young players. Normally, I'd be pretty concerned about a potential starting lineup of two rookies(Fultz and Simmons) and Embiid who only played 31 games, but I expect this staff to have them developing quickly. We saw it last season with how quickly Joel Embiid improved his game. Things like learning how to handle double teams, passing out of the post, running off screens, defensive awareness. TLC and Dario both got noticeably better as the season went along as well, and even Nik Stauskas started to finally find a niche for himself after an extremely disappointing start to his career. This staff knows what they're doing with young guys. Hell, they must be used to it by now after the last 4 years.
9. The core puts winning above their own egos
With the talent Embiid, Fultz, and Simmons have, you'd almost expect them to be a little selfish and want to be "the guy" to represent this franchise going forward. I don't see that being the case. From what I've read and seen, these guys just want to win. They are willing to make the necessary sacrifices for the overall good of the team, and they are willing to put in the extra work on the practice court to improve their overall games. No big heads here. Just great talents with the work ethic and character to back it up.
10. The national media thinks they are a borderline playoff team
The national media has been wrong about every single Sixers-related 'Process' thing since Sam Hinkie was first hired. From "tanking guarantees nothing" to "The Sixers will never have anyone desire to play there bc LOSING CULTURE!" Now you see almost half the league following suit of what Hinkie did, and the national media not uttering a peep about it. So if they expect the Sixers to "fight to barely squeak into the playoffs" expect them to be wrong like they have been since day one and the Sixers to be much better than everyone thought.
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